Essential Letters and Sounds is  the phonics scheme we use in school. 

ELS is a synthetic phonics programme which some schools use to help children learn to read in Reception and Key Stage 1. 

Here you can find more information on what ELS is and how you can support your child at home.

What is Synthetic Phonics?

Synthetic phonics is a way of teaching children to read. It teaches children how sounds are represented by written letters. Children are taught to read words by blending these sounds together to make words.

For example, they will be taught that the letters ‘m-a-t’ blend together to make ‘mat’. A synthetic phonics programme, such as ELS, is a structure for teaching these sounds in a certain order to build up children’s learning gradually. It is used daily during Reception and Year 1 to teach all the sounds in the English language.

How is ELS taught in schools?

With ELS, there is a daily phonics lesson where the teacher teaches a new sound, or reviews sounds learned earlier in the week. This is shown to the class on the whiteboard.

Children learn the letters that represent the sounds. They are then asked to read words and sentences with the new sounds in. Children will also practise writing the letters that represent the sounds.

What order are the sounds taught in?

New sounds are taught each day, with some review days and weeks to help children practise what they’ve learned. Click below to reveal the sounds your child will learn in ELS.

Letters and Sounds is the resource we use at St Ignatius’ Catholic Primary School to support the systematic teaching of phonics. Children begin the Letters and Sounds programme at the start of Reception year and continue across Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2). Every child between Reception and Year 2 has a 20-minute phonics session every morning. 

The Letters and Sounds programme is separated into six Phases – your child’s teacher will be able to tell you which Phase your child is currently working on.

Sources of Information

The Oxford Owl website has some excellent information for parents.  There are a couple of useful videos as well as a really helpful player that allows you to hear each letter sound.  Click on the icon to visit the site.

Letters and Sounds Games

Click on the icons to visit the websites.

If you require any further support, please come into school and speak with your child’s class teacher or our English Leader, Mrs Wearden.